OTA Station Status: SW Ontario, Lk. Erie, Lk. Huron

[sumguy99]

> Not to rehash an old thread but CBC chose to shutdown their analog operations.

I'm sure it was hashed here, and I don't mean to re-hash it, but I probably couldn't find the thread if my life depended on it. So just clarify this for me. CBC's various PR statements seem to indicate they had no choice - it was either convert a transmitter to digital ($1m each) or shut it down. Did nobody hold their feet to the fire in public to explain that position and ask why not keep some as analog if the CRTC was going to let them?

[alebowgm]

We do mind, so if you want to discuss it, see this post and go from there. The answers to your questions have been discussed ad nauseam.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=155500

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by sumguy99

Someone please tell me why CKCO-TV-3 is allowed to still be broadcasting in analog when CBC was (forced?) to shut down London channel 40/23 instead of keeping it running as analog?

CKCO-TV-3 is transmitting from Sarnia-Oil Springs, and is not intended to serve London. Since Sarnia-Oil Springs was not a mandatory market, they were not required to switch to DTV.

BTW, 42 is very snowy, but has color, and good audio, and I get nothing at all on ch. 29. Are the broadcast power numbers correct (42 is a million watts, 29 is about 200 kw?).

TVFool is out of date. Global upgraded their Sarnia-Oil Springs transmitter to digital a few months ago (it is now CIII-DT-29).

[sumguy99]

Ok, I do get CIII-DT-29 - sometimes, and barely. 1 or 2 bars.

[ExDilbert]

CIII-DT-29 is in the shadow of the Byron hill for most of central London, as is CKCO-42. I get a decent signal due to refraction but there are some totally dark areas. It's also affected by short distance tropo.

[someguy23475]

Spoke with someone at low power WMNT 48 Toledo, and word is they planned on going digital Thursday. However, I cannot confirm, as I have no signal, not even a sniff. They are either running at low power, or the signal is indeed too weak for me to get even one bar.

Anyone closer to Toledo pick up anything on RF 48?


Also, unrelated- WHTV is still not transmitting from Chelsea. No word as to why.

[Phil81]

I picked up WMNT-CA 48 digital early today around 2:30 am at 4 bars but dropping to 1-2 over a period of about 15 minutes. Likely some enhanced propagation conditions brought it in. There has been some tropo the past few mornings.

Here is what it had:
Everything 480i and there is no EPG or station ID.

48-1 WMNT programming
48-2 MundoFox
48-3 Test pattern bars
48-4 Test pattern bars

[Ken H]

Originally Posted by SpitsFanSec108

Just a side note....... a new channel launches locally May27 for WJBK Fox2 on 2.2 called MOVIES!.

From TVNewsCheck, January 28, 2013

FOX Stations, Weigel Launching 'Movies!'

Fox Television Stations, in conjunction with Weigel Broadcasting, will premiere Movies!, a new over the air, 24-hour movie network on the subchannels of 17 Fox O&O's this spring.

In making the announcement, Frank Cicha, SVP of programming for FOX Television Stations, said: “We’re doing Movies! because this content works in the D2 space. Weigel has proven that in their other ventures, which is why we’ve chosen to work with them. While we’ve successfully used our D2 spectrum to some degree, this is the first time we’re going in with all stations on board, which is exciting.”

The network will be available in the following FOX O&O markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, Boston, Washington, Atlanta, Houston, Detroit, Phoenix, Tampa, Minneapolis, Orlando, Austin, Memphis and Ocala, Fla.

Films will be edited mainly for inappropriate language or images, not run times, and be presented in the 16 x 9 format. The goal, Fox said, “is to create a new destination for movie fans that is fan friendly and available for free via over the air television, and in many cases via local cable carriage.”

“We are excited to work with the Fox Television Station Group in the creation of the next digital network franchise,” added Neal Sabin, president of content and networks, Weigel Broadcasting.

In a unique twist compared to other local OTA stations, the addition of 'Movies!' should not affect the HD picture quality of the main FOX network feed on 2.1. This is due to FOX's decision many years ago to allocate the bandwidth for a 2nd subchannel when they first started broadcasting HD.

The original FOX plans for a subchannel called for a 24 hour news channel with international, national, and local content, which never came to fruition.

As noted, the addition on WJBK-DT 2.2 should be available in late May.

[Ken H]

In other local OTA news, I've been told TVO CICO-DT-32 will resume HD broadcasting in the next month, or so. I sincerely hope the info is correct.

[someguy23475]

Thanks Phil for the update on WMNT. Just checked- still no signal. They are probably at full power, so it looks like a tropo only channel.


Update on WHTV: late May is the new timetable for the official move to Chelsea.

[Phil81]

Is WUPW Toledo now the latest station to drop Cool TV?

Turned to it just now tonight and it's showing Bounce TV. EPG for 36-2 still has Cool TV programming listed and 36-2 is still ID'd as "Cool TV".

Looks like nobody carries Cool TV as a sub around here anymore.

[someguy23475]

I noticed that too, Phil. CoolTV was a great diversion once in a while. With WXYZ also carrying Bounce, it's a loss of a channel in my mind.

Unless WMNT picks up Cool on a sub channel, I don't see it coming back.

[msull]

WQLN-Erie rf50-virtual 54.1/54.2/54/3 has posted a notice that they will undergo antenna replacement early next week depending on the weather. They will be off the air for several days. Any updates/status are to be posted to the their website.

sull

[someguy23475]

It appears CFTV is now digital on RF 34. Anyone picking them up? There's no signal whatsoever this far west, but that's to be expected with WHTV also on 34.

[Phil81]

The info about a recent flashcut is inaccurate. Still NTSC here around 3 miles from CFTV.

Haven't found anything on their website indicating a flashcut, or any on air crawls indicating an upcoming conversion to digital as far as I have seen. Whenever they do go digital I will post it here first.